Screen Name

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first.

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first.

This Facebook account is already present

Your Club account has been locked due to a breach of our Terms of Service. Please set up a new account in line with the Club rules. Review the Club Rules. Alternatively, you can email us by completing our contact form.

Please enter a valid email address

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first.

Duo eye upsets in Asia

FIFA World Cup™ qualifying has long been a setting for
underdogs to catapult themselves on to the global stage. A look at
the African Zone preliminaries for the last edition of the
competition in Germany, where four of the five successful teams
were first-time qualifiers, underlines this.

Over in Asia, however, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup has
been dominated by the traditional powers for the past decade.
Indeed, the 'big four' of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and
Saudi Arabia monopolised their continental section in the battle
for places at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions, leaving China PR,
who appeared at the finals six years ago, as the only other side to
join them on the world stage during this period.

China's maiden qualification was, nevertheless, aided by the
fact that co-hosts Japan and Korea Republic had their presence at
the finals guaranteed. And if the Asian outsiders' task was not
fierce enough as it was, Australia's recent induction to the
AFC Zone has only intensified the competition.

This does not mean to say, though, that the less reputable sides
are incapable of causing an upset. Having closed the gulf in class
between themselves and the regional heavyweights in recent times, a
number of dark horses are quietly confident they can book a ticket
to South Africa 2010.

One of these is undoubtedly Syria. In their first game of the
Asia Zone preliminaries' third stage on 6 February, they
traveled to the intimidating Azadi stadium in Tehran and held Iran
- positioned 63 places above them on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World
Ranking - to a goalless draw.

Syria's progress is indebted to the country's youth
set-up and its domestic championship, from which coach Ebrahim
Fajer fielded eight players from either Al Ittihad or 2006 AFC
Champions League runners-up Al Krama against the Iranians.

Furthermore, Fajer drew further inspiration from neighbouring
Iraq's fairy tale victory at the AFC Asian Cup 2007. "Iraq
proved that underdogs could upstage the favorites," he said.
"Their success in the Asian Cup showed defence and
counter-attacking is the proper approach for a weaker
team."

Syria will next host fellow west Asians United Arab Emirates on
26 March, before back-to-back matches against Kuwait in early June.
A strong return of points would propel them into a strong position
ahead of their return game against Iran in their penultimate
fixture, and Fajer believes his charges have what it takes to
progress to the Asian Zone's last ten.

Quartet hold the keyHaving reached the final stage of qualifying for Germany
2006, it came as no surprise that Korea DPR ran out 1-0 winners
over Jordan in their clash of the minnows. The north-eastern Asians
have shown they are by no means short on talent, and their fans are
happy to see their team reinforced by an overseas-based
quartet.

Leading the line for Korea DPR is Jong Tae-Se of Kawasaki
Frontale, with another Japan-based player, Vegalta Sendai's
Ryang Yong-Gi, occupying playmaking duties in midfield alongside
Ahn Young-Hak of Suwon Bluewings in Korea Republic. Shoring up the
backline, meanwhile, is Kim Yong-Jun from Chinese outfit
Yanbian.

Coach Han Yhong-Yi's side next will cross swords with Korea
Republic in Pyongyang on 26 March before taking on Turkmenistan.
And while they may be a little short of international experience,
the defeat of Jordan and their aforementioned quartet of stars has
left spirits high in the Korea DPR camp.